18 May 2011, International Museum Day

12 May 2011

Dear colleagues and partners,

As in past years, UNESCO will, together with the global community of museums, celebrate the next International Museum Day on 18 May, launched by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977 to educate the public about the role of museums in the development of society.

In 2011 the theme of the International Museum Day will be “Museum and Memory”. Through the objects that are conserved, museums collect stories and transmit the memory of communities in which we live. These objects are expressions of our national and cultural heritage. Many of them are fragile, sometimes in danger, and need to be conserved with particular care. The International Museum Day will provide the opportunity to discover and rediscover the individual and collective memory.

During the 2010 edition of International Museum Day a record 30,000 participating museums organized activities in over 95 countries.

We invite you to actively participate in celebration of this day and to inform UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office about your projects and plans for the celebration.

Please, send your celebration’s plans to the Culture Sector of UNESCO Almaty Office: Mr. Yuri Peshkov and Ms. Yelena Gorovykh.

You could use ICOM site to help museums organize the International Museum Day or directly on the link specially dedicated to this event.

Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/18-may-2011-international-museum-day